EP0118939B1

EP0118939B1 - Supercompact rolling group with rolls supported at one end, and a rolling line comprising groups thus formed

Info

Publication number: EP0118939B1
Application number: EP84200176A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alfredo Poloni
Original assignee: Danieli and C Officine Meccaniche SpA
Current assignee: Danieli and C Officine Meccaniche SpA
Priority date: 1983-02-25
Filing date: 1984-02-08
Publication date: 1986-12-30
Also published as: US4744234A; IT1175058B; IT8383336A0; ES529770A0; ES8507018A1; EP0118939A1; ATE24425T1; DE3461751D1

Abstract

This invention concerns a supercompact rolling group (10) with rolls supported at one end, which comprises vertical (11) and horizontal (12) units arranged alternately or as necessary, and in which each unit (11-12) is driven by an independent motor (25-23) through a transmission (34) on parallel axes. <??>The invention also concerns a rolling line which comprises at least one supercompact rolling group (110-210) constituted as above.

Description

This invention concerns a rolling group. To be more exact, the invention concerns a rolling group with rolls supported as cantilevers which has a conformation and mutual arrangement of the horizontal rolling units and vertical rolling units such as to make possible a considerable reduction of the overall sizes of the whole rolling group and also a better functional nature of the group as compared to known lay-outs.
The invention also concerns a rolling line which comprises one or more groups formed in this manner.
Conventional rolling lines are known which consist of several groups arranged in series so as to obtain a continuous rolling process.
Such groups in their turn can include one or more rolling units, which should be understood as being an assemblage formed substantially by a carrying casing, or portion of a casing, which holds a set of rolls with related means providing support and direct movement.
These rolling lines require considerable space for installation, especially owing to their great lengthwise extent. They therefore require a great deal of covered space consisting of the relative sheds.
This leads to drawbacks linked to the need to have vast areas on which buildings can be erected and also to have accessory plants which cover a considerable extent of ground and are therefore very burdensome and hard to control.
Moreover, the maintenance of conventional plants is also complicated by the considerable extent of the plants themselves.
Furthermore, it is often impossible in such plants to check all the units by eye at the same time.
Embodiments already exist which are intended to lessen the overall size of rolling lines by providing compact groups that combine in themselves several rolling units, both horizontal and vertical.
For instance, patent FR-A-1.456.709 is known and discloses a rolling mill which comprises several units with rolls supported as cantilevers, the units being arranged on a common frame and inclined at 45° with alternate orientations.
This cited patent is mainly intended to enable the rolls to be adjusted and driven in an improved manner and also to facilitate withdrawal of the rolls for maintenance.
Transmission of motion is obtained with two parallel shafts driven by one and the same motor, one of these shafts serving all the units which have an orientation perpendicular to such transmission.
Thus, in this patent the same number of bevel gear pairs is required as the number of rolling units so as to enable the motion of the parallel shafts to be taken by the units.
Patent FR-A-1.465.519 is also known and discloses a substantially analogous solution, the rolls of the units being inclined at 45°, the units themselves being arranged alternately, and the motion being transmitted to parallel shafts that drive the two groups of units, as in the patent cited previously.
FR-A-2.294.770 in the name of Pomini Farrel describes a cogging mill with alternate vertical and horizontal units. Transmission of motion to the various units is obtained by means of a long shaft stretching along the whole length of the rolling group and serving units that have to receive its motion.
Patent DE-B-2.243.749 discloses an embodiment like that of the patent cited above.
As we have seen, all the foregoing embodiments make use of long transmission shafts with bevel gear pairs for the offtake of motion for the individual units served by such shafts.
In this way there is a bevel gear pair for each unit belonging to a group, however, such unit may be oriented. This entails many drawbacks, among which are the following:

- a great number of bevel gear pairs (one per unit),
- the bevel gear pairs are hard and burdensome to make,
- assembly has of necessity to be very accurate,
- bevel gear pairs are delicate and need precise maintenance and controls, and
- bevel gear pairs make a great deal of noise while working.

Patent DE-C-634.752 discloses a rolling mill with rolling rolls having their axes at 45° to the horizontal and with the drive transmission on the same axis as one of the rolls, whereas the other roll is driven by a chain transmission. Such an embodiment cannot in itself be employed even with low power, but with considerable power, as is actually required, it becomes unworkable in that the distance between one pair of rolls and the next pair would be too great. Moreover, the drive of the second roll cannot take place as disclosed.
The present invention intends to avoid the foregoing drawbacks and still others and not only to provide a drive system which enables the bevel gear pairs and parallel shafts to be eliminated by providing an independent motor for each unit, but above all by all the units being combined in one single compact group with a minimum distance between centres of the component units.
The invention also simplifies construction of the rolling groups and facilitates their maintenance.
Moreover, the invention provides a rolling group which may include auxiliary devices.
The lay-out of the units in the rolling group of the invention is made possible by assigning to the individual units forming the group a suitable conformation which enables not only the overall sizes to be reduced but also the desired cooperation to be maintained.
By "vertical" and "horizontal" units we mean units of which the rolls are disposed with their axes substantially vertical and horizontal respectively.
Hereinafter these names will be understood in the description only as also indicating units with their axes oriented as may be but substantially perpendicular to each other, this being an orientation which remains within the invention.
According to the invention it is possible to envisage the employment of epicyclic reduction gears, which have a minimum overall size and thus make a further contribution to the noteworthy compactness of the rolling group.
According to the invention any suitable alternation of "horizontal" and "vertical" units can be arranged. For instance, the units can be positioned alternately "vertically" and "horizontally", or there can be several consecutive units oriented in the same way as each other.
According to the invention each motor is positioned with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the unit which it drives, and a train of cylindrical gears may be employed for each unit since there is no necessity to transmit motion on axes which are not parallel.
The independent motors make it possible to simplify maintenance and also to make better use of the space available.
The problems relating to the use of long transmission shafts, such as the problems involved in the support of such shafts and problems of torsion, vibrations, etc. are obviated.
Moreover, the invention covers the possibility of assembling within the rolling group auxiliary means such as shears, loop-forming means, etc.
Within a rolling line that includes the group, these auxiliary means make it possible to obtain, owing to the invention, a coordinated relationship and control and a maintenance which would otherwise be impossible.
The outcome is a better use of the space available, better coordination of functions and lower maintenance costs.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the units in a rolling group which have rolls of the same diameter comprise roll-bearing headstocks that can be interchanged with each other and be withdrawn speedily for replacement and/or maintenance.
Moreover, several groups constituted according to the invention and having various functions, such as a cogging rolling group, intermediate rolling group and finishing rolling group, for instance, can be combined to form a very compact and well coordinated rolling line.
The invention also envisages the possibility of the modular construction of the rolling group.
To be more exact, it is possible to standardize the construction of the individual units so as to be able to construct, by mere assembly, rolling groups having a number of units which can be varied to suit requirements.
The smaller distance which can be obtained with the invention between consecutive pairs of rolls makes it unnecessary to provide intermediate guides for the rolled stock in most cases. This fact enable further constructional simplification to be obtained and also simplifies access to the individual units and their maintenance.
Such intermediate guides, however, can be envisaged when rolled stock is being processed which could be bent during its passage from one unit to the next one.
The invention is therefore embodied with a rolling group comprising at least one first unit and at least one second unit having roll axes perpendicular to those of the first unit, each unit consisting of a pair of rolls supported as cantilevers and driven by an individual independent motor through a transmission on parallel axes, characterized in that each of the units has a substantially L-shaped form, and those neighbouring units having their roll axes perpendicular to one another are arranged with an elongated portion of the L-form of one unit lying substantially within the cavity formed between the two arms of the L-form of the other unit, so as to provide a compact arrangement.
The invention is also embodied with a rolling line characterized by comprising at least one rolling group thus constituted.
We shall now describe a preferred embodiment of the invention as a non-restrictive example with the help of the attached figures, wherein:-

Fig. 1 show two preferably cutaway views of a rolling group from the front and side respectively;
Fig. 2 gives a front view of a rolling line formed with groups and accessory means.

In Fig. 1 a rolling group 10 has in the examples shown two vertical units 11 and one horizontal unit 12.
In the example of Fig. 1 the rolled stock slides from right to left and the rolling axis is indicated with 13.
As the structure of the various units 11-12 of the group 10 is substantially the same, we shall describe in detail the unit 111 farthest downstream.
The various parts which form the unit 111 are, in fact, also to be found in the other units with a like function and relative collocation.
A casing 14 having a box-like, substantially L-shaped form encloses a transmission group 15.
The casing 14 can also be included as an independent element on its own or else be envisaged as being integrally joined to the casings of the other units so as to form one single framework for the group 10.
In the example shown the transmission group 15 comprises a shaft 30 for each roll 18. Each shaft 30 has on itself a toothed wheel or pinion 31 which meshes with a pinion 32.
The pinions 32 mesh with each other, only one of the pinions 32 receiving motion from a motor 25 through a train of gears 34.
The motion is transmitted by the pinion 32 thus driven to the other pinion 32, the direction of rotation being inverted.
The contrarotating pinions 32 transmit the motion to the respective pinions 31 and thence through the shafts 30 to the rolls 18, which therefore rotate in the opposite direction to each other.
The pinions 31 do not mesh with each other and therefore the distance between the centres of the rolls 18 can be regulated, a thing which otherwise would be impossible.
An adjustment bush 33 which supports both ends of the shaft 30 is envisaged for each shaft 30 so as to perform the adjustment.
The shaft 30 is fitted off-centre in relation to the adjustment bus 33, so that a rotation of the adjustment bush 33, of which the axis 133 is stationary, causes a displacement of the axis 130 of the relative shaft 30.
The shafts 30 with the adjustment bushes 33, the rolls 18 and a carrying element 19 (see Fig. 1 b) constitute a headstock 17 bearing rolls.
In the example shown the carrying element 19 comprises an upper plate 119 secured to the casing 14 with screws or other equivalent means. If the screws are removed, the roll-bearing headstock 17 can be withdrawn in one piece very easily.
The headstocks 17 with rolls 18 of the same diameter can be interchanged advantageously, and a speedy replacement is made possible in this way for adjustment and/or maintenance purposes.
Moreover, standardization of the parts forming the headstocks 17 themselves simplifies construction of the whole assemblage.
The casings 14 of neighbouring vertical units 11 are connected with a union means 20, which can be envisaged as being an element on its own or as forming one block with the casing 14 of one of the neighbouring units 11.
A like union is visualized between neighbouring horizontal units 12.
The horizontal 12 and vertical 11 units in their turn comprise suitable means 120 for reciprocal union, such as flanged or angled elements or elements of another kind.
Where the casings of the various units form one single structure, the union means are an integral part of that structure.
The special L-shaped confirmation of the units 11-12 has the effect that in correspondence with a substantially concave portion 21 delimited by the casing 14 and by the rolls 18 (on their left in Fig. 1a) there can be positioned an elongated portion 16 of a neighbouring unit 12-11 having a different orientation.
Fig. 1a also shows a possible positioning of shears 22, here flying shears, in correspondence with the concave portion 21. In the example shown the flying shears 22 have two rotors 122 with blades 222.
The flying shears 22 can be withdrawn advantageously, being fitted to a carrying element 19 like the carrying elements 19 of the headstocks 17.
The special arrangement of the shears 22 thus incorporated in the group 10 obviates the necessity of providing shears separately with a resultant increase in the overall size.
The shears 22 can get their motion from a motor 23 that activates a unit, a horizontal unit 12 in our example, with its axis parallel to the axes of the rotors 122, by means of a train of cylindrical gears: or else an independent motor 24 can be envisaged for driving the shears 22 separately.
Each vertical unit 11 gets its motion from a motor 25 having a vertical axis.
The kinematic mechanisms 34 for transmission of motion from the motors 23-25 to the transmission groups 15 of the individual units are of a known type with cylindrical gear wheels.
This transmission can have advantageously epicyclic reduction gears 123 and 125 for each motor 23-25 respectively.
The employment of epicyclic reduction gears makes possible a considerable saving of space.
As can be seen in Fig. 1, the lay-out of ths units 11-12, which is made possible by their special L-shaped conformation, enables the distance between centres of rolls 18 of neighbouring units to be about the same as, or even less than, twice the diameter of the rolls 18 themselves, the distance in question being that between two consecutive units having orientations different from each other, namely between a horizontal unit and a vertical unit.
The distance between centres will obviously be greater, about double, in the case of consecutive units having the same orientation as each other, but even so the reduced overall bulk of the individual units in the direction of rolling will remain very modest.
A guide, or inlet, may perhaps be employed between two consecutive units having the same orientation so as to guide the rolled stock and prevent it from being bent, depending on the type of rolled stock being processed.
Fig. 1 a shows a guide 26 located upstream from the flying shears 22, the guide 26 being required in that position to prevent dangerous deflections of the rolled stock during shearing.
Fig. 2 shows part of a rolling line having groups according to the invention.
From right to left along the path of the rolled stock can be seen a cogging group 110 and two finishing groups 210.
Loop-forming means 27 are located between successive groups 110-210. The function of the loop-forming means 27, as is known, is to prevent the creation of a pulling action on the rolled stock, for such an action could have an unfavourable effect on the rolling process.
In the example shown the loop-forming means 27 are connected directly to the neighbouring groups 110-210. This obviates the need to provide appropriate supporting means.
The loop-forming means 27 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention offer constructional simplification as compared to known solutions.
Known loop-forming means consist generally of two fixed idler rolls and one roll substantially able to move crosswise to the direction of rolling.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the function of one of the fixed rolls is carried out by the rolling roll 118 immediately upstream from the loop-forming means 27.
A fixed idler roll 28 is located at the outlet end of the loop-forming means 27.
A movable roll 29 can move substantially crosswise to the rolling axis 13 between positions 29A and 29B. In the latter position 29B the roll 29 displaces the rolled stock to form a loop 113.
In a rolling line consisting of groups according to the invention, shears 22 can be incorporated in one or more groups as in Fig. 1a, and a variable number of loop-forming means 27 can be comprised, to suit the specific requirements.
We have described here a preferred embodiment of the invention but many variants are possible without departing thereby from the scope of the claims.
For instance, the number and sequence of the units 11-12 belonging to one group can be varied.
It is also possible to constitute a rolling line with several groups according to the invention as required, or else with groups according to the invention in conjunction with conventional groups.
The shapes and proportions of the individual parts can be varied and different types of rolls 18 can be employed. Transmission means other than those shown 34-123-125 can also be visualized.
Further variants are possible for a person skilled in this field without departing thereby from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. Rolling group (10) comprising at least one first unit (11) and at least one second unit (12) having roll axes perpendicular to those of the first unit (11), each unit consisting of a pair of rolls (18) supported as cantilevers and driven by an individual independent motor (23-25) through a transmission on parallel axes, characterized in that each of the units (11-12) has a substantially L-shaped form, and those neighbouring units having their roll axes perpendicular to one another (11-12) are arranged with an elongated portion (16) of the L-form of one unit lying substantially within the cavity (21) formed between thw two arms of the L-form of the other unit, so as to provide a compact arrangement.

2. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in Claim 1, which incorporates shears (22).

3. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, in which the shears (22) get their motion from an independent motor (24).

4. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, in which the shears (22) get their motion from a motor (23) which also drives at least one unit (11-12).

5. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the motion is transmitted from the motor means (23-25) to the units (12-11) at least by epicyclic reduction gears (123-125).

6. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which at least roll-bearing headstocks (17) having rolls (18) of the same diameter are interchangeable.

7. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which guides for rolled stock are not included between the units (11-12) in the case of rolled stock.

8. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, in which the units (11-12) are functionally modular and can be assembled together even in an alternate sequence.

9. Rolling group (10) with rolls supported as cantilevers as claimed in any claim hereinbefore, which is embodied with a functional sequence of units (11-12) that performs a plurality of functions e.g. cogging-intermediate-finishing).

10. Rolling line which is characterized by comprising one rolling group (110-210) constituted according to any of the claims hereinbefore.

11. Rolling line as claimed in Claim 10, which has at least one loop-forming means (27) in which the fixed roll immediately upstream from a movable roll (29) is a rolling roll (118).